Morgan Carter

The year of the snake is almost here. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Lunar New Year, especially in New York City. Over the course of two weeks, revelers will be ringing in the Year of the Snake over parade watching, bursting fire crackers and much more.  RECOMMENDED: Everything you need to know about celebrating Lunar New Year in NYC Many people prepare foods that symbolize good fortune and prosperity for the new year ahead. Getting in on the spirit, plenty of restaurants are offering Lunar New Year specials just for the occasion. For even more options, check out our list of Korean restaurants, top spots in Chinatown, and the best places to get dim sim. 

If you’re looking for the best things to do in NYC this week, or even for today, there are tons of fun options, including MLK Jr. Day events, Queer Soup Night, Cali Sober Sips, Burns Distilled, And Scene comedy show, Schtick a Pole In It, and awesome free events in NYC! For more ideas, scroll down to see this week's best things to do in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in New York Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Looking for the best things to do in NYC this weekend? Whether you’re the group planner searching for more things to do in NYC today or you have no plans yet, here are some ideas to add to your list for this weekend: MLK Day events, a massive Baltic music festival, curling at Edge, bumper cars on ice, cool new public art in the Flatiron, and free events around town. All you have to do is scroll down to plan your weekend! RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in NYCRECOMMENDED: The best New York attractions Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

New York City Restaurant Week’s winter edition is back! More than 500 restaurants are offering special pre fixe specials citywide from January 21 to February 9. This year’s price points are $30, $45 and $60 for brunch, lunch and dinner menus on the days of each venue’s choosing. With so many sensational spots, and so little time to taste them all, it can be hard to narrow the field. Luckily, I have thumbed through the list and highlighted the top options to snag that reservation. Check out the best places to visit and everything to order during NYC Restaurant Week this winter. Updated January 13: We added information for Lore, Four Twenty Five and Tusk Bar.

Choosing a restaurant in NYC is one of life’s most rewarding challenges. Any way to narrow the field presents a welcome edge. Price point’s a good place to start, and location is always imperative. Manhattan makes sense most of the time, and it just happens to have more than a few magnificent diners, cafes, bistros, power lunch spots and special occasion destinations. Of course, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island all have their share too, but these are the best places to eat and drink on the island of Manhattan.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC Updated January 2025: This time we added Tatiana, Congee Village, 886, Los Tacos, Bangkok Supper Club and Scarr's Pizza.

New York City is home to some of the most lauded, iconic restaurants in the world. And for good reason, the best restaurants in NYC represent a rainbow of cuisines and approaches, and buzzy new restaurants pop up on a regular basis, constantly giving New Yorkers something new and exciting to try. But it’s the old beloved spots that have stood the test of time and served generations of fans, that have become known as the most famous restaurants in the city. From high end steakhouses to casual delis, these classic Gotham restaurants are spots that everyone—both locals and visitors alike—should try at least once.

Whether you abstain from alcohol year-round or simply committed to the month-long run that is Dry January, nonalcoholic cocktails—sometimes sectioned on menus as “zero-ABV,” “spirit-free,” “mock-” or “soft cocktails”—have almost reached ubiquity at NYC bars.  Many otherwise buzzy new openings will offer some dedicated boozeless option, and a few of our most beloved, established drinking destinations continue to craft their un-tipsy sips, too. These are the best places in town to grab a drink, dry or otherwise. RECOMMENDED: These 4 zero-proof cocktails are Dry January-approved  

The Bronx is more than just home to those pinstriped Yanks. It’s also home to the city’s real Little Italy, and subsequently some of the best pizza in NYC, as well as some exemplary interpretations of the global foods that well represent the Boogie Down’s rich diversity. So grab a pint at one of the borough’s top-rate beer halls, and toast to the best restaurants and bars in the Bronx. RECOMMENDED: The full guide to the Bronx

Time Out Market New York is buzzing with activity, from phenomenal food and drinks to fun parties to keep you rolling through the cooler months. The market has an ongoing happy hour from 4 to 7pm during the week (what’s not to love about $6 select draught beers, $9 specialty cocktails and $8 select wines?), but there’s much more going on. The market has a daily Bottomless Brunch! For $65, you’ll receive a $35 TOM Card toward the meal of your choice from the market’s concessions and you can choose from Bottomless mimosas and bellinis from noon to 3pm.   Below is the current schedule of events at Time Out Market New York!

If you’re visiting NYC or just in the mood for a staycation, why not choose a hotel that also happens to have a gorgeous view of the skyline? It turns out dozens of stays have some of the best views in the city, from five-star hotels with luxurious, lavish interiors to modern but affordable boutique hotels. Besides, after tackling the best museums, galleries, restaurants, neighborhoods and other things to do in NYC, there’s nothing better than kicking back and seeing the city from above. Need some extra relaxation? Some of these hotels have hot tubs and some are home to the best spas in the city. We’ve checked these out ourselves to make sure these views really do take the cake! Recently added in December includes: Boro Hotel, Graduate Hotel and the Wythe Hotel among others. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best hotels in NYC Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Every drink seems ideal when you're at the perfect bar. Your dive’s beer is frosty, rooftops send you soaring toward the clouds and cocktail destinations shake and stir myriad ingredients into ideally calibrated glassware—leaps above what you try to craft at home. The options are unending, the ice is nicer and you aren’t just drinking, you’re at the spot.  Whether you're dabbling in low-ABV libations, making your way through dedicated martini menus or collecting passwords for pseudo speakeasies, there is an ideal location for every taste, tolerance and occasion. Find them among the 50 best bars in NYC right now. Updated January 2025: We added Apotheke and Brooklyn Brewery. We removed Brooklyn Social and Leyenda.   

Choosing a favorite restaurant in New York City is a joyful task with myriad possibilities depending on the occasion, mood and even the time of year. Your favorite dive, fine dining destination and neighborhood favorite might all occupy top spots on your personal best list in spite of their disparate qualities.  Our list of NYC’s 50 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalogue of all the places we wish we were at right now. They don’t have to be the newest or the most recently reviewed, just places that we’ve been to and want to return to again and again, and that we think that you will, too.  RECOMMENDED: NYC’s best bars right now Updated January 2025: We added Hav & Mar and Scarr's Pizza. We removed Untable and Gator. Note: Many of the city’s best chefs, restaurants and concepts have been welcomed into the Time Out Market. Because that is the highest honor we can award, establishments related to the market have not been ranked here, but you can see them below.  Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining.

Shea Gomez's online community platform and podcast, "No Booze Babes" is all about socializing, no alcohol required. For the driest month of the year, she has partnered up with New York’s largest cannabis dispensary, The Travel Agency, for a fun and booze-free event series.  This month, you can catch Gomez at various locations of The Travel Agency for her pop-up series, Cali Sober Sips. Discover your next favorite spirit-free sensation as Gomez has curated line-up of non-alcoholic drinks. But for those of us who lean more into the "Cali Sober" side of things, the events will also feature low-dose, cannabis-infused drinks for the tasting. Whether you are sober or simply curious, this alcohol-free happy hour is the place to sip and schmooze with like-minded individuals. The event will be popping up at The Travel Agency at the Fifth Avenue location (January 16), the Downtown Brooklyn location (January 23) and the Union Square location (January 30). The event is 21 plus, ID is required. 

What started as a one-off event centered around community and good soup has grown into chapters nationwide, all with a mission of providing comforting meals and giving back to local justice organizations. Celebrating eight years, Queer Soup Night is returning to where it all started, right here in Brooklyn.  On January 20, the community collective will celebrate its eighth anniversary and its "inauguration commiseration" edition on one night at Bed Stuy's C'mon Everybody. Simmering soups, including a vegan option, will be provided courtesy of chefs Erica Lezama and Jordan Smith paired with bread from Newlight Breadworks. No tickets are required, but a suggestion donation is encouraged. Donations will benefit Brooklyn’s Amandla Collective. 

This Noma-born distillery has set up shop in Bushwick. Known for inventing Doritos-infused spirits, Empirical Spirits has set up a craft cocktail bar named 53 AD. Tasting room by day, cocktail space by night, 53 AD showcases the breadth of Empirical Spirits portfolio, from the viral nacho cheese drink to the political "F*ck Trump and His Stupid F*cking Wall."

Bushwick's Empirical Spirits and 53 AD are welcoming the second coming of a Donald Trump presidency the only way they know how—with a commiseration party.  Held on Saturday, January 18, aka Inauguration Day, the tasting room and cocktail space will be hosting a special party. To honor the incoming president, the bar will share a limited release of one of its most sought-after spirits: "F*ck Trump and His Stupid F*cking Wall." Made right here in Bushwick, the 2.0 version of the spirit features a fiery distillation of fresh habanero peppers. The late night party will also feature music by Childish Brandino, performances by drag stars Hassan and Bussy and specialty cocktails to hopefully get us through the next four years. Entry is free; crying, screaming and throwing up is optional. 

You can find some of Brooklyn's booziest scoops at Tipsy Scoop. But in celebration of Dry January, the Brooklyn ice cream shop is whipping up some non-alcoholic treats for the occasion, and you are invited. On January 16, Tipsy Scoop is coming together with the non-alcoholic brand, Lyre's, for an ice cream-making class. Participants will churn up two flavors: the hazelnut Espress-no Martini ice cream made with Lyre's Coffee Originale and the Amalfi Spritz cocktail using Lyre's Classico & Italian Spritz non-alcoholic liqueur. While learning how the ice cream gets made, participants can sample unlimited tastes of Tipsy Scoop's flavors, booze-infused or not. At the end of class, ice cream makers will take home two pints of their homemade ice cream alongside some serious swag, including one non-alcoholic Lyre’s cocktail, a Tipsy Scoop glass and an insulated Tipsy Scoop tote bag to keep it cool. Happy scooping!  

Since 2018, the alcohol-free pop-up bar, Listen Bar, has provided sober and sober curious individuals a place to gather and build community sans spirits. On the hunt for the best spirit-free drinks in the city, the bar now hosts their own annual competition. Titled Good AF Awards, the yearly competition gathers some of New York's very best bartenders, tasking them with creating the best cocktail in the city, sans alcohol. For its fifth year, they are bringing back previous winners for an all-out showdown.  On January 15, Dante, Death & Co, PDT, Undercote and the reigning champs, Leyenda, will go head to head, vying for the title of best alcohol-free cocktail of 2025. Judging it all is a panel of cocktail legends, including Nacho Jimenez of Superbueno, Iain Griffiths of Bar Snack and culture curator Solonje Burnett. But you too can get in on the fun. Attendees are invited to try all five cocktails and cast their vote for their favorite. Five bars, one winner. Who will it be? Buy your ticket and find out. 

Fabrik is a hub for creative gathering. From morning yoga classes, non-alcholic cocktail classes and game nights, Fabrik is a third space made to foster a sense of community. 

The sober curious movement is here to stay, and we couldn't be happier. No longer relegated to sparkling waters and whatever soda is on tap, sober and sober-ish individuals have finally been able to indulge, thanks to a surge of spirit-free cocktails, apertifs and spirits. Plenty of bartenders across New York have been shaking up tipples sans booze, with full menus dedicated to the art of the mocktail. Want to learn how to make them at home? Third Place Bar has a class for you.  On January 28, the pop-up bar concept is hosting a zero-proof mixology glass. During the two-hour class, you'll learn the basic rules of cocktail making while sampling several non-alcoholic spirits. Put your newfound knowledge to the test, as you shake up your own cocktail, sans booze. So come solo or bring a sober curious friend for an evening of hangover-free fun. 

A handful of alums from Gramercy Tavern have started to carve out their own corner of Ridgewood. It all started with Rolo's, an Italian-ish restaurant that doles out Calabrian chili butter-soaked polenta bread and the charred-edged Two Sheet Lasagna Verde from its wood-fired oven. Just a few steps down the street comes the next from the group, its doors opening in February 2024. Marked by a red neon sign of an amphibian, Hellbender is described as a Mexican-American restaurant on its website but word of mouth says it's a bar with better snacks. Regardless, just know you'll find a strong lineup of cocktails and a short list of bites from Mexico to go with it, or vice versa. Pushing past the curtain, the interior of Hellbender is relatively minimal: a laid-back, wood-heavy bar with blush-colored booths, globe lighting and a mix of high tops and long tables. The taxidermied jaguar, however, is the most eye-catching detail, lounging inside a glass case near the back of the room.   If you've come to eat, you'll get familiar with the menu from chef Yara Herrera, previously of Momofuku Ko and Sobre Masa. It's common to find chef Herrera in the dining room, personally serving foods inspired by her Mexican heritage. Tables are graced with bright red plates of chamoy-coated fruit, be it apples or Asian pears, or the massive empanada that invites picture-taking thanks to its three different kinds of cheeses stuffed inside. Her weekly rotating Jello dessert is also a fun find, iterations

Ursula's New Mexico-style breakfast burritos were enough to cause a safe but socially distanced frenzy when it debuted in 2020. One pandemic and a move later, Ursula is a well-known community hub for queer cooks and Southwestern specialties. While the breakfast burrito still reigns supreme, the Fried Squash Blossom and Green Chile Fried Chicken sandwiches have given us more than enough reason to keep visiting. 

Still need of NYE plans? Count down to the new year at Time Out Market’s electric New Year's Eve party. New Year's Eve Celebration at Time Out Market New York powered by HRLM Champagne is on and popping this year. Taking over both floors of the market, each floor will have live music, an open bar and tons of party favors to welcome the new year. Plus a number of restaurants on both floors will be open late so you can eat, drink and party your way to 2025. Access to the first floor is completely free and will give you access to tunes from DJ Stretch and DJ Price is Right. Looking for a bit of liquid courage? You can access to open bar for just $100. But if you want to ring in the New Year with views of Dumbo’s riverfront and the city beyond, purchase general admission ($100) for rooftop access. The fifth floor will also have music from DJ Suave and DJ King Kauso plus a live music performance from Ron Browz. But to do it up big, secure VIP Table Tickets ($160 per person with a max of four people) which come with gift cards for food, party favors and two bottles, including your choice tequila, vodka, gin or rum and a bottle of HRLM Champagne.  Tickets are limited, so book yours ASAP! General admission to the first floor is free; open bar tickets are $100; and general admission to the rooftop which includes open bar is $100. Rooftop tables with bottles are $160 with a max of four people per table. 

Founded in 1916, Lundy Brothers Restaurant was once an iconic seafood restaurant, a must-visit that could seat 2,800 people at once, and often fed 15,000 a day. After a few ups and downs, the restaurant sadly closed its doors in 2007. Hospitality industry veteran Sandra Snyder has revived Lundy's, same menu, now just in Red Hook. Biscuits, lobster bisque and clams on ice are back, just like the old times. 

We don’t have to tell you how cold it is outside. And guess what? It’s only going to get worse—in a few days, temperatures in NYC will dip down into the single digits! But you don’t have to bury your head in your hidey-hole just yet. Time Out Market New York has plenty of cozy foods sure to warm your soul, bellies—really, any part of your person. So don your finest puffer and come on over to Dumbo for some cozy eats. RECOMMENDED: These two drink specials will help aid L.A. wildfire relief efforts through Sunday  1. The Brioche French Toast at Clinton St. Baking Company Photograph: Morgan Carter| Brioche French Toast with a scoop of ice cream from Sugar Hill Creamery Clinton St. Baking Company’s French Toast starts with thick slices of brioche bread, battered in a spiced egg wash before hitting the flat top. Once perfectly toasted, the bread is topped with syrupy, caramelized bananas and organic Texas pecans. But the piece de resistance goes to the warm maple butter—nutty and sweet in all the right ways. Psst! Pros know to order a vanilla scoop from Sugar Hill Creamery to add on top.  2. House of Cardamom at Doughnuttery Doughnuttery's tagline of “Hot. Fresh. Uniquely Sugared” is how I plan to spend these colder months, bag of doughnuts in hand. Winter calls for the House of Cardamom, an aromatic number made even more so thanks to the addition of orange zest. But before you pop all six in your mouth, tie it all together with one of the dipping sauces, the Dulce de Leche bein

“Let Me Tell You” is a series of columns from our expert editors about NYC living, including the best things to do, where to eat and drink, and what to see at the theater. They publish each Tuesday so you’re hearing from us each week. Last time, Food & Drink Editor Morgan Carter told us how the sausage got made at this part-butchery, part-class in Prospect Heights.  We’ve finally reached the new year and what better way to celebrate a new you than by finally whittling down that list of restaurants you say want to visit? I get it—the weather outside hurts your face, mine too. But with a slew of classic establishments alongside some of the city’s best participating in Restaurant Week right around the corner, I implore you to dig out that scarf and get exploring.   If that wasn’t enough, a new class of restaurants is set to land this year. So perhaps it’s best to visit at least one restaurant to make room for the new spots coming down the road. From a Caribbean-inspired tasting menu to Dominique Ansel’s latest bakery, here are 11 restaurants I am looking forward to in 2025.    1. Bar Kabawa and KabawaOpening: February  Chef Paul Carmichael was cooking Caribbean at the highest level, albeit in Australia at the now closed Momofuku Seibo, the first Momofuku restaurant outside New York City. Now, the chef is coming back stateside to take over the former Momofuku Ko space in the East Village. His restaurant will showcase his upbringing in Barbados via a tasting menu, but for a more c

When Mango Bay opened in October 2024, it gave us a window into the islands of the Caribbean. But the window quickly shut, as did the restaurant, as they waited on the approval of a liquor license. As of last week, the restaurant reopened its doors, allowing New Yorkers to plan their escape to the islands, this time, just a train ride away. Spread across two floors of a brownstone in Fort Greene, the interior of Mango Bay invokes a sense of the islands. Green leather booths, wicker chairs and a floral wallpaper decorate the space, tied together with a mural from resident artist OlaDapo The Vinci that overlooks it all. Climbing the winding staircase to the second floor, you’ll find an homage to figures found across the diaspora, from Bob Marley to a street sign honoring the 35th anniversary of Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing mounted on the wall.  RECOMMENDED: Let Me Tell You—these are the NYC Restaurant openings I’m excited for in 2025 Photograph: Kyran John| Swimmas Previously cooking in the kitchens of Essential by Christophe and Manhatta, executive chef London Chase takes us through his Afro-Caribbean heritage. Starters include Ackee and Saltfish Egg Rolls with callaloo and scotch bonnets wrapped inside and puffy pastries topped with curried lamb. The classic Braised Oxtail with rice and peas gets an elevated eye with a coconut foam and the jerked Bush Fowl is balanced with a mango bay sauce. Selections from the sea also appear here, namely the “Swimmas,” a broiled branzin

New York’s long-contested congestion pricing went into effect this Sunday. Now, drivers who dip below 60th Street will be charged a toll of $9—and it won’t just effect those who have a car. Those of us who rely on Lyft, Uber or a taxi when we just can’t deal with the train, will feel the squeeze as well with tacked on fees depending with each trip. Stressed out about it all? Us too. Luckily, a few NYC restaurants are offering congestion pricing deals to help alleviate our wallets and our worries.   RECOMMENDED: How much could the NYC congestion plan cost you?  Clinton Hall Need a beer? Grab one at Clinton Hall. All Manhattan locations of the craft beer hall, including West 36th Street, East 51st Street and the Financial District, are offering a special deal to offset the toll. If you spend $100 at Clinton Hall during January, you will receive $9 off your tab. With over 20 drafts are on tap, we recommend getting a few brews and saving some of that tab for one of its burgers, the Double Smashed Burger being a top pick. Fresco by Scotto This Friday, Fresco by Scotto restaurant is hosting a congestion pricing dinner. Diners who stop by this family-owned and operated restaurant will receive $9 off their bill, granted they order an appetizer and entree. Now if you decide to put that $9 toward the sugar-coated Bomboloni for dessert, we certainly won’t blame you. Shake Shack From January 13 to January 17, Shake Shack's across New York and New Jersey are offering a Congestion Prici

As of today, wildfires are still ravaging various parts of Los Angeles, including the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Eaton Canyon. Hundreds of acres have burned, displacing tens of thousands of Angelenos. Organizations throughout the area are offering direct assistance to those in need, including local restaurants that are providing free food and shelter. While we live on a separate coast, plenty of New York establishments, event venues and restaurants are raising funds to assist those affected. Here is a list of how you can help out right here in New York:  Gotham Smash Burger Social Club On Sunday, January 12, Gotham Burger Social Club is bringing back their California Dreaming Burger. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, which supports the efforts of those on the front lines of the California wildfire relief efforts. Kancil Found on the Upper West Side, Kancil is dedicating its Mondays to the cause. Starting January 13 until March 3, the Malaysian restaurant will donate 50% of the day’s proceeds to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation to aid with the initiatives to battle the L.A. fires. Migo events Migo events has partnered up with Williamsburg’s Viva Toro for a donation drive. On January 12, January 14 and January 15, the party collective will accept clothes, shoes and accessories to help aid the Los Angeles community affected by the fire. Check out their Instagram post for more details.  Porterhouse Party to Benefit t

December was a bit of a blur, wasn’t it? Through the rush of Christmas shopping, Hanukkah celebrations and holiday lights, we’ve arrived at the end of the month, and somehow the end of the year. But even among the hustle of it all, plenty of restaurants made their debut this month. So make a resolution to visit some of these spots in January and well into the new year. And in case you missed it, here’s what opened in November! 1. Pig & Khao Photograph: Cole Saladino| Pig & Khao UWS Opened: December 4Where: Upper West SideWhat: Twelve years ago, “Top Chef” alum Leah Cohen opened Pig & Khao, inspired by her Filipino roots and travels across Thailand. Now, she has opened a second location of the famed Southeast Asian eatery, this time on the Upper West Side. Classics from the original can be found here—including the chopped pig’s head in the Sizzling Sisig—alongside newcomers like Thai-style barbecue pork roti “tacos” aka Moo Ping Al Pastor and one of chef Cohen’s favorite Filipino dishes, Pancit Palabok.  2. Messy Photograph: Teddy Wolff| Sandwiches at Messy Opened: December 5Where: SohoWhat: Mediterranean meets Japan at Messy. From the same team that opened Lighthouse in Williamsburg, Messy draws inspiration from the casual and quick restaurants found in Japan. On-the-go lunches can include skewers of steak and sushi-grade tuna or lamb and beef kebabs sandwiched inside pitas. Plus, dishes stay under $20, which is saying something in this city.  3. The Residence of Mr. Moto

Over the weekend, the Michelin-rated restaurant and farm, Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, New York, experienced a fire. As reported by News12 Westchester, multiple fire crews were dispatched to the property around 3am on Saturday, January 11. Officials believe the fire was caused by a kitchen appliance that started on the ground level before spreading to the second floor. As of this posting, the restaurant, event space and farm are temporarily closed.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blue Hill Farm (@bluehillfarm) The property posted about the fire on their Instagram page: “Stone Barns Center and Blue Hill at Stone Barns are closed due to a small but serious fire on the property early this morning. Thankfully, no one was injured and the fire was quickly contained.⁣”  Chef and co-owner of Family Meal at Blue Hill in Manhattan and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Dan Barber reported about the fire on his personal Instagram profile, stating that the buildings “are intact and the damage is contained” but that it is “It’s too early to assess the physical harm."  Since 2004, Blue Hill at Stone Barns has led the charge for sustainability and farm-to-table cookery. The ambitious restaurant and working farm have received nods from national publications, including two stars and a green star from the Michelin Guide, recognition on the World’s 50 Best and received James Beard Awards for Outstanding Restaurant Award and Outstanding Service.   While the resta

The restaurant industry is notorious for its intensity on the line, impossibly high standards and back-breaking work, all in the hopes of bringing a memorable experience to diners night after night. Entwined with it all is alcohol. From a casual shift drink to an all-out bender after a tough night of service, alcohol is almost unavoidable in the restaurant industry, especially as a good chunk of service is dedicated to pushing glasses of wine and shots of liquor. However, several service professionals have abstained from alcohol entirely, embracing the sober lifestyle. And with the plethora of thoughtful zero-proof drinks across the city, sober and sober curious individuals have more options than ever. We caught up with a handful of few sober industry professionals and asked them about their favorite spirit-free drinks around NYC.   RECOMMENDED: NYC's 10 best mocktails and where to find them for Dry January  Photography courtesy of Sam Bail| Amber Sky Amber Sky at Bar Moga “The bar has an incredibly thoughtful NA menu designed by Shintaro Eleazar Tozzo-Okuda, with five different options that follow a theme, morning to evening. The Amber Sky is a perfectly balanced and delicate cocktail that's basically a sour, served up, made with a non-alcoholic bitter aperitif, grapefruit, lemon and beautiful notes of rose. I also appreciate that it uses aquafaba instead of egg whites to create texture and frothiness.”— Sam Bail, Founder of Third Place Bar Negroni Zero at Bar Pisellino “I

A brush fire broke out in L.A. on January 7, and, due to high-speed winds, the wildfire has spread to Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Eaton Canyon, causing unbelievable destruction to homes and businesses across the area. Under a state of emergency in L.A. city and county, hundreds of thousands of people have evacuated and many L.A. landmarks, attractions and restaurants have closed their doors. To help their own, a number of L.A. restaurants are offering free meals and shelter to those affected. Following their lead, Time Out Market New York is pitching in to help. Now through Sunday, January 19, the market is offering two drink specials to help aid fire relief efforts. Available at all three of its bars—The Lobby Bar, The Rooftop and The Local Corner—the Blueberry Margarita (tequila, bergamot liqueur or lime juice) and the non-alcoholic Cucumber Jalapeño Spritz (agave, fresh cucumber juice and seltzer) will be available for purchase with 100% of proceeds going to The Red Cross-Wildfire Relief.  Tune into 1010 Wins to hear Time Out New York's general manager, Andrew Denno, speak more about the promotion. And drink up and give back when so many are in need.

With a new year comes new resolutions. Some of us want to workout more. Others finally want to make a plan to visit that museum, tick off that restaurant and finally see the sights of the city, fear of looking like a tourist be damned. But after the rush of the holidays and the overall season of indulgence, many of us are ready to take a step back and get back to health. In line with such resolutions comes Dry January. With modern day origins starting in 2013 in the U.K., Dry January has become a worldwide campaign with millions of people abstaining from alcohol for the entire month. But instead of hibernating during the month to keep your promise, there are plenty of bars and restaurants serving up zero proof cocktails that cater to sober and sober curious individuals. Feeling a little thirsty? Time Out Market New York has plenty of spirit-free sippers sure to satisfy.  RECOMMENDED: NYC's 10 best bars for nonalcoholic cocktails Just in time for Dry January, Time Out Market New York has four spirit-free cocktails to quench your thirst. The special of the month? The Winter Rum Spritz. Starting with the vanilla and star anise flavored Ritual Non-Alcoholic Rum Alternative, the cocktail is shaken with cranberry juice, lime juice and rosemary syrup. Served over ice in a wine glass, the sipper is made bubbly with a splash of Fre Alcohol Removed Sparking Brut.  For a taste of a classic sans booze, try the New Fashioned crafted with all the familiar faces—simple syrup, angostura bit

Earlier this week, New York’s congestion pricing went fully into effect. As one of the first cities in the nation to implement such a plan, the policy is designed to reduce traffic, encourage public transit use and fund transit infrastructure to the tune of $15 billion. But how does this translate to everyday commuters? For those of us who drive, vehicles entering below 60th Street will now be charged a toll of $9. And this is just the start, as the toll is set to rise to $15 in 2031. If you are already feeling the squeeze, this Midtown East restaurant has something to ease your burdens and your wallet.  RECOMMENDED: How much could the NYC congestion plan cost you? This Friday, Fresco by Scotto is hosting a special congestion pricing dinner. To ease the financial burden of guests who are impacted by the tolls, the Italian restaurant will deduct $9 from anyone who drove to the restaurant. Taking us back to simpler times, the restaurant will also feature a DJ spinning the greatest hits from the ’90s. “As a family-owned restaurant in the heart of New York City, we understand the challenges our guests face, especially with the new congestion pricing,” said owner of Fresco by Scotto’s Rosanna Scotto. “This dinner is our way of saying thank you for choosing to dine with us—we want to make the experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible, even before you walk through our doors.” The only catch is each table needs to order at least one appetizer and one main course to get the

Caesar salad martinis? You may have seen this inventive (or monstrous) take on the classic cocktail circling the socials early last year. Under the tag of #FoodTok, various content creators shook up their version of salad-based tinis' with anchovy oil, Parmesan rind-infused spirits and cherry tomato garnishes. What started as a trend can now be found at one of Chelsea’s latest cocktail bars.   RECOMMENDED: The best martinis in NYC Landing in Chelsea early last month comes Shy Shy (169 8th Avenue). Sister bar to Jungle Bird, which can be seen across the street, Shy Shy is the second bar from Krissy Harris and Marissa Cheshier. While Jungle Bird is all about escaping to a tropical paradise, Shy Shy channels the secluded beaches of the West Coast.  “The childhood memories Marissa and I have of the verdant lushness and salty coastal feel of the West Coast are recreated in our cocktails, food, and every detail of the design,” said Harris in a press release. “One bar is a tropical vacation, the other is a coastal cabin getaway, both offer a little escape from the hustle and bustle of our city.” Photograph: Beth Kennedy| Coastal inspired snacks at Shy Shy And what better way to start a beach escape than with a few martinis in hand? The aforementioned Caesar is a standout, starting with a dressed up Ketel One Vodka infused with EVOO, black pepper and lemon zest. As a finishing touch, the cocktail comes with a garnish of Romaine lettuce, Parmesan and an anchovy. Creative riffs conti